2012 Breeders' Cup Marathon: Forever a Grade 2?

In its brief 5 year existence, the Breeders' Cup Marathon
has slowly been climbing the ranks as a graded stakes event. What started as listed stakes, became a grade
3 in 2009, and in 2010, became the grade 2 we know it as today. Less than 48 hours before the first debate
for the US Presidency, I decided to spike a debate of my own. What would it take for the Breeders' Cup
Marathon to become a grade 1 race?

What came first, the chicken or the egg? Grade 1 horses will never race in the
Marathon unless it is a grade 1 race.
But, the Marathon will not be a grade 1 race until grade 1 horses start
running in it. So many arguments can be
made as to why the Marathon will or will never be a grade 1 event. If the race organizers just made it a grade
1, it would draw higher tier horses, and give something to offer owners, trainers,
and the race’s namesake: breeders. It would
first need to have a 7-figure purse to match the other grade 1 Breeder’s Cup
races. All worthy arguments but lets
look at some in detail.

Argument 1 Against:

“You can’t attract grade 1 horses without a grade 1 purse,
can you?”

Waa waa waa, those poor, little,
half million dollar races. While the Marathon
and Juvenile Sprint boast half million dollar purses, they do not have quite
the juicy enticement when compared to the 13 other million dollar plus races on Breeders' Cup weekend. It just makes financial sense. If I owned a horse good from 10-12+ furlongs
(cough, cough Richard’s Kid, cough, cough), why not take a shot at the Classic, where a 4th place finish will pay almost as much as a win in the Marathon. There are plenty of grade 1 races during the course of the year that do not offer huge purses, and likewise there are other grade 2 and 3 stakes that offer million dollar pots. Its all in perspective, and when the only other staying distance Breeders' Cup race (the Turf Classic) offers a 3 million dollar purse, it is easy to see what would draw the limited number of staying distance grade 1 horses willing to make the trip.

Conclusion: A
higher purse is required to tempt grade 1 horses during a weekend where just
about every US based grade 1 horse is trying to make millions.

Argument 2 Against:

“There are not enough staying distance dirt prep races to
get grade 1 horses ready for the grueling 14 furlongs.”

There are 73 “win and you’re in” races for the Breeders' Cup
in 2012, and only 2 were for the marathon.
Of the 2, the Clasico Belgrano was run in Argentina! Seldom do we see US
horse ship to Europe or Asia, but it would take one determined set of
connections to fly their horse to South America for a $50,000 purse to get a
free ride to the Marathon. I do like and
respect the organizers for trying to get some South American exposure in the US
racing scene.

Conclusion: We
need more 12+ furlong races in the USA and more than 2 “win and you’re in
races” for the Marathon.

Argument 1 For:

“The Breeders' Cup is supposed to be a year end racing
finale that is non stop grade 1 events that lures the top competition in the
world. Make the Marathon a grade 1, and it
will increase the international competition.”

Given the dirt influences from many classic US bloodlines
becoming more frequent in the world, a grade 1 status could make some
international trainers ask if those influences hold any merit in their
stayer. Per the current contenders list, 5 different countries are likely going to be
represented in a possible 9 horse field. For a year-end championship event, I
would hope the race would draw a full field of 14.

Conclusion: The
sport is evolving. It is no longer only
domestic. A grade 1 status could
increase international exposure and draw more international connections eagerly
wanting to prove their charge as the best stayer in the world.

Argument 2 For:

“The US Thoroughbred lacks the stamina it demonstrated
20-30 years ago. A Grade 1 victory in
the Marathon could be a stamina bloodstock advertisement used by stud farms.”

A multiple (or even single) grade 1 victory can vastly
improve the quality of mares a stallion will see in stud duty. If the horse can claim a Grade 1 at 14
furlongs, it would have a far more rare quality than simply saying he is a
stakes winner at 8 furlongs. If a filly/mare takes the crown, she would likely have some valuable offspring given the abundance of speed sires available. It may not
be the most exciting things for buyers to see at the yearling sales, but being
able to say the sire won a grade 1 contest at 14 furlongs could come to mean
much more than just stamina. It takes a
tough horse to race at 14 furlongs, win or lose. But to win, it shows durability and
perseverance, two traits that may start to become more desirable after the
meltdown of the sophomore class of 2012.

Conclusion: The
effect may not be instantaneous, but a grade 1, 14-furlong race could be one of
many small steps needed to bring stamina back to the US Thoroughbred

So will the Breeders' Cup Marathon ever become a grade
1? Only good things would result if it
did, however, someone needs to make the first move. A larger purse is the necessary first step,
but with patience, time, and increased exposure, this race could become one of
the most desired wins in a horse’s career.
What’s your argument?

agree completely that we need a turf marathon, something to try to attract some of the great european stayers, and maybe encourage some more breeding for stamina. Question though, what preps are there for the dirt marathon? it seems that a lot of stakes are being shortened nowadays, what would one do to qualify for the dirt marathon?

kay, I agree, personally I'd like to see the Ladies' Classic (and the Personal Ensign) run at 10f. I don't know why these races were shortened except maybe to attract larger fields. Or was the thought with changing the Ladies' Classic distance that the ones capable of getting 10f should run with the males?

The Marathon should absolutely be a Grade I with a bigger purse. They should also add a 16 furlong turf Marathon, also a Grade I. While they're at it, the Distaff/Ladies Classic should be at 10 furlongs and the Classic at 12 furlongs, and the Juvie and Juvie Fillies should be at 9 furlongs. Maybe if they started carding more prestigious Grade I races at longer distances, more breeders might take a chance on breeding for stamina rather than pure speed.

OK, here's my solution (and I wish they'd hurry up with it!): Day 1: Juvie Filly, Juvie Sprint, Filly & Mare Sprint, Juvie Turf (colts AND fillies), Filly & Mare Turf, Ladies Classic. DAY 2: Marathon, Sprint, Juvie Boys, Mile-T, Mile-D, Turf, Classic. By combining the Juvie Turf to boys AND girls, and dropping the Turf Sprint, it puts it back to 13 races (6 on day 1, 7 on day 2), thus freeing up the money to make the Marathon a Gr I !! See? Very simple, Very easy!

As suggestea above, up the purse and make it a Grade 1, and "they will follow". What is ironic is this: In Europe, a 1 1/2 mile race is classified as a "Middle Distance" race, and yet, in the U.S. how many 1 1/2 mile races do we see these days, let alone 1 3/4 miles (like the BC Marathon). Better yet, how many owners/trainers even aspire to run in the longer races. Answer: almost none! Because, in the breeding shed, long distance - stamina - horses are not valued, only the early-maturing, speed horses are the highest rated at stud. In contrast, overseas, at least half of their races are at distances of 1 1/2 miles or longer. No drugs, overseas, either, and horses can run back on short rest. The argument that the public in the U.S. won't support longer races is just nonsense, put out there by trainers who don't want to do the extra work preparing a runner for the longer races, breeders who don’t support stamina horses, and owners who want the high stud fees brought by speed (but oh so fragile these days!) horses. Royal Ascot (granted a special event) had at least half their races at the longer distances, and I along with many others -- as this year, these races were available "live" worldwide -- just drooled at watching international stars show up in droves, literally, for these races. Even above the din of Frankel and Black Caviar, a horse by the name of Simenon won a 2 1/2 miles event, and then 4 days later, won an event at 2 3/4 miles! The world's most famous and celebrated marathon, at 2 miles, the Melbourne Cup, will take place in early November. Billed as "the race that stops a nation," the world, not just Australia, indeed will stop to applaud the winner. Yes, I would love to see the Breeders Cup brand step up to support longer-distance races. They have taken the lead in banning lasix for 2 year olds, why not target the marathon races as worthy to support the breed?

It would have been nice to see a real quality individual like Redeemed in the Marathon, but alas he is injured and retired. Richard's Kid is probably Classic bound, but I agree, he would be a good name for a race that needs some big names.